OHL North Bay Battalion

Objective, Reality 'Aren't Even Close'

February 25, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - The North Bay Battalion, on a four-game losing skid, faces its toughest test of the Ontario Hockey League season to date, embarking on a three-game road trip that starts with a visit to the Barrie Colts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Battalion, which hasn't won since a 5-2 home-ice victory Feb. 15 over the Sudbury Wolves, has matched a season-high losing run set Dec. 5-11.

The skid has seen Barrie, which was to visit the Owen Sound Attack on Wednesday night, move nine points in front in the fight for first place in the Central Division. The surging Ottawa 67's, second in the East Division to the Oshawa Generals, have moved into third place in the Eastern Conference ahead of the Troops, who hold a game in hand on the three teams in front of them.

But Battalion coach Stan Butler wasn't focused Wednesday on standings comparisons.

"I'm really not worried about catching any teams," said Butler. "One thing I've got to see right now is our team playing like the North Bay Battalion plays. The last few games, I'm standing on the bench wondering if I'm in Twilight Zone, because the way our team plays and the way we're supposed to play aren't even close."

Having led the visiting Niagara IceDogs 4-1 through 40 minutes Sunday, the Battalion allowed two third-period goals by Carter Verhaeghe, including the winner, and singles by Billy Jenkins, Ryan Mantha and Vince Dunn in a stunning 6-5 loss.

"I thought we were playing as a group, not to win, but not to lose," noted Butler. "That's a very difficult way to play hockey. It's like Russian roulette, and eventually that bullet is going to get you."

Butler had said after the game: "It's not a matter of backchecking or stuff like that. It's a matter of understanding that, no matter what the score is or where the game is at, you've got to play the same way. When things don't go your way, or there's a situation that's not perfect, it can't dictate how you play.

"Confidence is an internal thing, and each and every player has to figure out a way to get their confidence back. As coaches we have to bear with the guys."

Butler said Brenden Miller, who has contended with a sore hip in recent weeks, went home to Orangeville, Ont., Tuesday to rest.

"Obviously, he's a huge part of our team, and for us to be successful we need him to be on top of his game. I think he hit the wall, which happens to a lot of hockey players, and we've got to do the smart thing. He went home yesterday for some (rest and recuperation) and he'll be back on Monday.

"To be honest, he's played the last three or four weeks without practising. You just can't keep going on that way. I know he's a battler and he's a warrior, but eventually you have to get some time and rest."

The Battalion has seven other defencemen on the roster, including Austin Kosack, who played earlier this season at Ferris State University after winning a United States Hockey League championship last year with the Indiana Ice. He's expected to partner Kyle Wood in Miller's absence.

"He's a 19-year-old defenceman that we brought out of college hockey who had good success in the USHL last year, and I think he's looking forward to that opportunity," Butler said of Kosack.

Meanwhile, left winger Zach Bratina, who hasn't played since Nov. 21, is to take the weekend to assess whether he can return to action from a concussion. Butler has said that, if Bratina, who turned 19 on Jan. 6, doesn't play next Thursday night against the visiting Belleville Bulls, he won't be back this season.

"Me being around and not playing could interrupt the chemistry with the guys, and it's not smart for me to just jump into the playoffs," said Bratina.

"I've been practising for two or three weeks without contact, and now I've practised a couple with contact. Everything's going well so far, and I'll have the weekend here to make sure that no symptoms come back.

"After this weekend, I'll have a good idea. If I'm going to play Thursday, I'll probably know Monday, because I'll be ramping it right up in practice."

The Battalion visits the Kitchener Rangers on Friday night and Niagara on Saturday night before returning home to face Belleville.

The game at Barrie can be seen live in North Bay on TVCogeco Cable 12 and heard on Country 600 CKAT.

Check out the North Bay Battalion Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2015


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